ADAMS TWP — A township resident questioned the board of supervisors on Tuesday night regarding the amount spent in 2015 on mowing the township park.

Ron Shemela, who last year ran unsuccessfully against longtime supervisor Linda Lees, said according to documents he obtained from the township via the Right To Know Act, the township paid a contractor $24,470 last year to mow the park.

He asked the supervisors if they know they paid that much for the contract.

“We had it in the budget,” said supervisor Ron Franceschina. “We knew how much was spent.”

Shemela said he looked at 31 invoices, and that several had dates that also appeared on a previous bill.

“It’s extremely questionable to me on how that could possibly be handled that way,” he said.

Shemela asked the board if anyone verifies the dates and times when the contractor mows and checks his calculations.

‘I think it’s imperative that somebody checks into this,” Shemela said.

He also asked why township employees, who he said he has seen mowing certain areas of the township, can’t mow the park.

Shemela also questioned whether the contractor is registered with the state attorney general and was issued a certification number from that office, as required by state law for contracts costing more than $5,000.

“Regarding verifying (the contractor’s) dates and times, we can definitely have it looked into,” said supervisor Russ Ford.

Ford said the supervisors would also check into the state certification, but he told Shemela he doesn’t feel the amount paid to the mowing contractor last year is excessive.

The township saves money through contracting the job because they do not have to pay workers’ compensation or health benefits, Ford said.

“We will look into it, but I do want to remind you, the cost of a (township) manager managing everything every day will be a heck of a lot more than $24,000,” he said.

Ford said the road crew does some weed eating and a small amount of other grounds work, but is too busy to mow the park.

“I think this conversation you’re asking about is absolutely ridiculous,” Ford said.

Supervisors Chairman Donald Aiken said it would cost the township more to buy the equipment and pay an employee to do the work.

He agreed that the invoices for mowing the park would be reviewed.

“It’s not good accountability for the township,” Shemela said.